When Sam Presti left his gig as the Spurs’ assistant GM in 2007 to take over the Sonics, he inherited a team that had been two games over .500 in the previous nine seasons. That’s the NBA’s version of purgatory — neither chasing a championship nor lousy enough to rebuild in earnest.

Unfortunately, Jazz nation, this is where your 2012 Jazz are. With veterans like Raja Bell, Al Jefferson, and Devin Harris, the team has veterans on the team that are getting minutes while young players like Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, and Derrick Favors toil away with the second unit.

Coach Ty Corbin has tried to mix things around to give the young guys time to develop. While the team is winning, it’s hard to give too many minutes to the young players and watch the leads slip away. But when your team is collapsing the way they did against Minnesota on Wednesday, it may be time to seriously think whether this squad can reach the ultimate goal.

Aren’t all teams trying to win the NBA Finals? I can’t see any team going into long-term planning sessions thinking, “It’s time to lock up the fourth seed in the conference,” or, “If all we can do is make the playoffs and exit round one, year after year, that’s good enough.”

Can the Jazz, as currently assembled, do that? No.

So it’s time to mix things up – and time to follow a recipe that has worked.

The Sonics/Thunder got Serge Ibaka – the Jazz have Derrick Favors.

The Sonics/Thunder got Russell Westbrook – the Jazz have Alec Burks.

The Sonics/Thunder got Kevin Durant – the Jazz have Enes Kanter.

What’s the disconnect? Okay, KD is a top-five player in the league. But the Jazz have the opportunity, with two picks in the upcoming draft, to potentially grab a top player, someone who can dynamically improve the Jazz and put them over the threshold and into competition for the NBA Final representation for the Western Conference.

Step One – Use the Okur trade exception

The Thunder shed big contracts (Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen) and loaded up on skilled players who did things the right way while nurturing young talent.

The Jazz? They have a lot of young talent, they just need a player who can do things the right way.

That means trading Al Jefferson – yes, Big Al, the Kleenex of the post (because he has soft touch – and can’t play defense).

*It’s hard to notice, because the Jazz are third in the NBA in blocks. But guards and wings are streaking past the perimeter defense and are putting up shots near the rim. Big Al can’t rotate on the pick-and-roll, and the excuse of drawing them into the shot blockers shouldn’t cut it. That leads to fouls – which the Jazz do A LOT of*

The Jazz have the ability to make trades, because they have the Okur trade exception. Why not use it? The trade, linked above, means the Jazz end up with Pau Gasol – yeah, Pau Gasol. One of the best post players in the league, he is better than Al Jefferson. Despite having a larger contract than Jefferson, he can get paid that because he plays the game better than Jefferson.

When I used to waste my money, my dad would, “Why don’t you spend your time digging  a hole, and toss your money in there? Then I can go get it later.” I have the same opinion about Devin Harris. Ship him to the Lakers, and ride the Earl Watson-Jamaal Tinsley wagon to the end of the season. I can’t imagine it being any less productive than having Devin Harris constantly turn the ball over or miss threes.

Step Two – Draft Wisely

Utah, you have two picks in the talented 2012 draft! Unfortunately, most of the talent is in the trees, and the Jazz need perimeter help. Since it isn’t likely that the team will land in the playoffs, and they have the Warriors draft pick, they will likely be in a similar position as last season – right outside the top 10.

Their first pick? I really like John Henson, a lanky power forward out of North Carolina. The Jazz need perimeter help, especially a good shooter/defender. I think they should try to trade down for either Austin Rivers, from Duke, or Terrence Ross, from Washington. I feel that Ross fits better in the Jazz lineup, but Rivers has the ice water to make late shots – like he did against North Carolina, on the road, with the game-winning shot, as a freshman.

Ross/Rivers could slide into a time share with Burks, until one of the two young players earns the starters spot. Or Corbin could take the George Karl/Scott Brooks/Gregg Popovich approach, and just go with the hot hand to lead the second unit while the starter plays strong defense and shoots.

The second pick in the first round will likely be under 15 but above 10. But that’s great this year. That puts them in position to grab a Tar Heel, Kendall Marshall, that is drawing comparisons to Andre Miller, a former Ute. Chad Ford says the following about Marshall:

Scouts want to focus on what Marshall can’t do (like shoot or win dunk contests), but it obscures the fact that Marshall is the best pure point guard in the game right now. He makes so many good decisions with the ball it’s hard to believe he won’t have some place at the next level. A number of scouts have used the Mark Jackson comparison on him. I think Andre Miller might be another one for Marshall down the road.

In my opinion, that is a player that can really help the Jazz. Miller averages nearly 10 assists per 40 minutes, and although not known for his outside shot, uses his high basketball IQ to back down his defender into the post and set up his teammates.

Marshall is a 6’4″, 190 lbs point guard who averages five shots a game on a talented roster, but usually contributes around 20+ points per game because of his passing ability.

Scouts don’t like his shooting touch, so he isn’t ranked as high as other scoring guards like Damian Lillard of Weber State. But I think a scoring point guard is a mistake for the Jazz, a team with so much talent around the point guard. He’ll likely be available for the Jazz’s second pick in the first round.

Step Three – Commit to the system

This is a great lineup for the NBA:

Given the young talent that the Jazz would have, and the integration they have had, this team would have the talent necessary to compete in the West. The best teams – Thunder, Clippers, Spurs, Mavericks – would find a difficult match-up against this young, lanky team. The Jazz would have slashers/shooters on the perimeter, a wing who can create his own shot, and big men who shoot at a high percentage and move the ball well.

The second unit would be led by the rebounding of Kanter/Favors, while Marshall moves the pieces into position and Ross/Richardson can shoot from outside.

As a Nuggets fan, I would be scared to face this team. They counter the fast-paced offenses in the West by developing a team that shoots at a high percentage in set offenses – something I remember about the Jazz in the late 90′s. If they were able to control the pace, this team would be incredibly difficult to beat – at home or on the road. The young guys would have to keep control of the ball, but with the veteran presence of Watson, Bell, and Gasol, the leadership would be there to make it happen.

You can call me crazy, but with the season looking destined for .500, or no-man’s-land in the Western Conference, it may be time to start calling up the other teams and make some noise on the trade wire.

Going off that basis, I looked up the title teams from the ‘79-‘80 season until last season and looked for big men who could score down in the post with their back to the basket. Here is what I found.

11- Dirk Nowitzki

10- Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom

09- Gasol, Bynum, Odom

08- Kevin Garnett

07- Tim Duncan

06- Shaquille O’ Neal

05- Duncan

04- Rasheed Wallace

03- Duncan

02- Shaq

01- Shaq

00-Shaq

99-Duncan, David Robinson

98- ??

97- ??

96- ??

95- Hakeem Olajuwon

94- Hakeem Olajuwon

93-??

92- ??

91- ??

90- Mark Agguire

89- Agguire

88- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy

87- Kareem, Worthy

86- Kevin McHale

85- Kareem, Worthy

84- McHale

83- Moses Malone

82- Kareem

81-McHale

80- Kareem

That isn’t to say that each of those players were the best or most important on their team. A few of those teams did not rely on a superstar, and a few had two top dogs to rely on. But the importance of the low post big man cannot be denied. You will notice only six teams in the past 32 years have won without a big man scoring in the post. Those six teams have a common factor and he goes by the name of Michael Jordan.

Kobe Bryant is the second best shooting guard of all time. But the comparisons to MJ and the questions of who is better need to stop. The fact that there are people out there who question this says a lot about Kobe’s greatness, but more than anything else it says a lot about those people’s foolishness. Kobe’s competitiveness, clutch abilities and championship rings puts his career above 99.9% of players who have ever played in the league, but there is still quite the gap between he and His Airness.

Jordan’s Bulls won those six rings and dominated the nineties. They did so while contradicting the big man’s league stereotype. Do the Rockets in their title-winning-seasons ‘94 and ‘95 win with Luc Longley as their center instead of Hakeem Olajuwon? Do the Lakers’ of the early 2000’s win with Bill Wennington instead of Shaquille O’ Neal? The answer is a resounding NO! Only Jordan could win so much without a true big man on whom to depend. He did have a super sidekick in Scottie Pippen (my personal all-time favorite) and a number of great supporting cast members such as Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Ron Harper and Horace Grant (a big man who could score, but not very well down in the low post with his back to the basket). Also, the Bulls beat teams with legitimate low post threats in the Finals, teams led by Charles Barkley, Shawn Kemp and Karl Malone (twice). And as history teaches us, every non-Jordan championship team from the past 32 years has needed a low post threat.

And let’s say the Lakers win the title this year, that will give him six titles for his career, the same number as MJ. However, assuming Kobe wraps up another Finals MVP, that will only give him three to Jordan’s six. The other three titles that Kobe helped win, we will refer to as Pippen Titles, meaning he was the wingman to Shaq’s Jordan. Not all titles mean the same thing. I don’t think anyone would put Robert Horry above MJ or Kobe even though Horry won seven titles throughout his career. Shaq was the man on those Laker teams, he won the Finals MVPs and thoroughly dominated the teams they played in the finals. Never one time in those six title runs, was any other player even close to getting the Finals MVP, not even Pippen. Final Tally- Jordan: SIX top dog championships. Kobe: TWO top dog championships, THREE Pippen championships (which is really nothing to be ashamed of).

Two more points need to be brought up in this “comparison.” First of which is that Kobe has lost twice in the Finals; one of those times was in 2004, when the Lakers were by far more talented than the team that embarrassed them, the Detroit Pistons. Never in a million years, would MJ have let that happen in the Finals.. Jordan always, always, always got business done when it was supposed to be done. In 2008, the Lakers were down in the Finals two games to one to the Boston Celtics. In game four, played at the Staples Center, the Lakers found themselves up by more than 20. With a chance to tie up the series and gain momentum heading into a pivotal game five, also held at home for the Lakers, how did LA respond? They lost the lead, lost game four, won game five and got blown out in game six, handing the Celtics the championship. Jordan never would let that happen in such a big moment and he never would have allowed his team to get embarrassed in a series clinching game. Kobe’s greatness cannot be denied, but those are big-time missed opportunities; opportunities Jordan thrived on.

The second point eludes to the importance of the big man. Even as great as Kobe is, he has always needed a big man to get it done. Shaq and Kobe fought like children in their time together, Kobe won out and Shaq was traded. What happened in the years to follow? Many mid-forty win seasons and first round playoff exits. Not until Kobe was blessed by the NBA powers with big man Pau Gasol, was he able to make another serious run at a title. And Kobe wasn’t only blessed with Gasol, Andrew Bynum immerged as another low post threat as the Lakers won back to back titles just a couple of years ago. But none of that was possible until low post threats were brought to Los Angeles. Before that happened, Kobe nearly fled LA for greener pastures. I don’t ever remember hearing MJ look for a new team to play with.

I hope I am not misunderstood this article. I am not trying to take away from Kobe’s greatness. I am only trying to remind everyone that MJ is the greatest of all time and that that probably is not going to change anytime soon. Eighty-one points in a game, five titles, his toughness and ability to play through injuries all speak for themselves. Kobe is one of the all time greats, but let us remember the significant gap between Michael Jordan and everyone else. In a game made for big men, Jordan was the only one who could consistently win without one.

It is interesting that Phil Jackson said what he said because he saw first hand six title teams that did not have a big man who was a threat in the low post. He saw the one guy who could win without a low post threat, and then he coached the only other guy who might have been able to repeat Jordan’s feats. After that Jackson must have come to one conclusion: there will never be another one like Michael Jordan.

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Jamal Anderson is a legend.  Playing for the Atlanta Falcons he ran for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive years, including putting up over 1,800 yards in 1998 alone.  After suffering an injury that sidelined him for all but 2 games in 1999, Jamal returned the following year to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark yet again.

Before taking the NFL by storm, Jamal played for the University of Utah.  When it comes to former Ute players showing support for their alma mater there is none more vocal or emotionally invested than Jamal.  He is always a welcome site to Ute fans, players and coaches, whether it be in Rice Eccles Stadium or on the sidelines in the Superdome during the Sugar Bowl.

Even though the creator of the “Dirty Bird” has retired from playing football, that doesn’t mean he’s slowing down.  Whether he’s giving analysis on CNN, making an appearance on ShopNBC, helping launch and promote a line of stylish watches, or writing his blog over at jamalanderson.com, Jamal always stays busy.

Despite all his projects Mr. Ute himself was kind enough to call into Studio B for an extended interview.  In it he breaks down Utah’s first season in the PAC 12 and weighs in on Coach Whitt’s decision to promote Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator.  He also looks back at this year’s Superbowl and gives insight that only someone who has played in the big game can give.  Is it possible for a player to truly stay focused through all the hype and distractions leading up to the game?  Plus Jamal examines the current state of the Atlanta Falcons and shares with us the true origins of the infamous Dirty Bird.

Show Notes:

• Check out Jamal’s website at www.jamalanderson.com and check out his blog while you’re there.
• Follow Jamal on Twitter: @jamthedirtybird
• Find Jamal on Facebook
• Check out Imperious, the new line of stylish watches

___________________________

Call or text the D & D Voicemail and Text Line at 801-47-SPORT (801-477-7678) and let us know what you think

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Send us an email at DogAndDeuce@gmail.com

Opening and closing song: “Salt Lake City” by The Dwarves.  Music for this episode provided by Mevio’s Music Alley.  Check it out at music.mevio.com

The Jazz have lost 5 of their last 6 games. We knew that February’s schedule was going to be brutal, but this looks like a completely different team. Here are the Jazz’s 5 main issues that that are costing them games.

#5 The Pick and Roll.

If you’re a Utah Jazz fan, you know this play. It’s the most basic of plays. It takes timing, a good understanding of your teammate, a good understanding of your opponent, and good decision making. It was the base point to Jerry Sloan’s offense and Sloan made it work year after year. It was the anchor to the Jazz system.

It’s taking an entirely new role in Utah these days. It’s no longer an anchor, but an axe.

The Jazz have lost 5 out of their last 6 games and the primary weapon has been the pick and roll. Mediocre point guards look like All Stars. All-Star point guards look like hall of famers. It even stared off Linsanity. All because we can’t find an answer to the pick and roll.

#4 Pure Harris-y

Devin Harris has been a major disappointment this year

There has always been a Jazz point guard who could run this offense at minimum and take over when needed. The obvious point guards were All-Star Deron Willams and one of the greatest point guards of all time, John Stockton. But even in the rebuilding years post Stockton-to-Malone era, Carlos Arroyo was able to do a solid enough job.

Enter Devin Harris. While the necessary evil of having to trade Deron Williams was a tough reality, the Jazz organization felt confident in securing a 1st round draft pick, up-and-coming Derrick Favors, and one-time All-Star Harris. The tail end of the season for Harris wasn’t bad, but there wasn’t much of it due to injury. But what was seen from Harris was promising.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t played out that way this season. Harris’ inefficiency stems from his refusal to take the ball down in the paint and his apparent confusion with the offense. His lack luster transitions on D are a major reason the pick-and-roll has been so deadly to the Jazz. Although he’s the starting point guard, Harris doesn’t even lead the team in assists. Do we need to talk about his shot selection? Harris has launched some ugly airballs and cannot be counted on for clutch shots.

#3 Defensive Focus Down The Stretch

Bar a year or two, the Jazz haven’t been known has a defensive powerhouse. They usually float around the middle of the league. They have, however, been known for physical, sound defense in the most critical part of the game: the second half. This year’s team has consistently been prone to mental lapses in the 3rd and 4th quarter. In Pacers, Lakers, and Thunder games this year, we’ve held tight for most of the game only to lose control late and ending up losing– even blown out.

#2 Roster Reverse

The Jazz have been stocking up on forwards like Enes Kanter but have yet to answer their guard situation

During all the years Sloan coached, the persistent cry of Jazz fans was, “can we please get a big man down low?” Well, now we have 4 athletic, powerful big men. However, stacking the 2 big men positions down low has sacrificed the other 3 positions. At the Point Earl Watson has been our best and yet he comes off the bench. We have a log jam of inconsistency at our shooting guard between Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Alek Burks and CJ Miles. Not to be outdone, our Small forward position is as stable as our shooting guard with a carrousel of rotating sort-of  small forwards in Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans and Josh Howard. We’ve shifted our weight and it’s costing us.

On another note, can someone please answer me why we just added another forward in DaMarre Carroll? All we have are forwards. If we don’t figure out the guard situation, we’ll be looking for one in the lottery pick.

#1 Nothing Behind the Arc

The Utah Jazz are tied for 2nd to last with .293% 3 point shooting. The Jazz have been awful behind the arc this year. It’s forced the Jazz to have to plan for 2 possession plays when down by 3 with under a short time left in the quarter. It’s congesting everything down low. Above all it’s virtual a gimme every time they shoot a 3 due to the poor shots. Raja Bell has turned on the 3 point shooting as of late, but the Jazz are going to need more people to join in to free up the big guys down low.

All is Not Lost

While the Jazz’s play is down, we still have shown some moments of brilliance. Ty Corbin has been doing a great job of mixing the old and new. The youth of the team is showing right now. It’s time for the vets to step up and show the new guys how to hold tough.

With no way to dump him in a trade, we need Devin Harris to produce. Harris needs to show some leadership and some grit.

We also need Milsap to show that he’s an All Star. He needs to unleash his game.

Most of all we need more consistency from our 2s and 3s. Whether it’s Miles, Hayward, Howard, or Burks, there needs to be some tough, consistent play. The 2 and 3 are the most athletic, most talented position in the league. If we can’t get that in check, there’s no chance.

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Coming to you from the headquarters of Studio B in Salt Lake City where we are still suffering the Super Effects of Super Sunday, this is Dog and Deuce #59.  On this episode we adjust to Brian Johnson’s promotion to offensive coordinator, sort through the ever growing feud between Karl Malone and Greg Miller, break down the spectacle that was Superbowl 46 and try to make sense of the consistently inconsistent Utah Jazz.

Show Notes:

• Check out the Academically Ineligible blog.
• Gerald Narciso is our resident NBA expert.  He has been hyping up Jeremy Lin for years.  Lin, point guard for the Knicks, has put together an amazing string of games and is finally starting to turn some heads.  Check out Gerald’s 2009 feature on the longshot from Harvard.
• Follow Gerald on Twitter: @geraldnarciso
• Check out Kevin Graham’s excellent breakdown of the Karl Malone/Greg Miller feud
• Superbowl XLVI was everything we hoped it would be.  We break down the game.
• Now that Eli has 2 rings should he be considered an elite quarterback?  Will he gain entrance into the Hall of Fame?
• How does the Patriots’ loss affect Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s legacy?
• Kyle Whittingham hired 24 year old Brian Johnson to fill the vacant offensive coordinator position after Norm Chow departure.
• Is this a good hire?
• Were there other options out there?
• Is this actually worse than hiring Gary Crowton?
• Should a PAC 12 school be making such a gamble?
• The feud between Karl Malone and Greg Miller seems to grow more intense each day.
• How much of what the Mailman says should we believe?
• How has Greg’s infamous midnight blog (in which he attacked Karl’s character in a classless manor) changed the fans’ perception of him?
• Should the head of a billion dollar company even be involved in a situation like this?

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Call or text the D & D Voicemail and Text Line at 801-47-SPORT (801-477-7678) and let us know what you think

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Send us an email at DogAndDeuce@gmail.com

Opening and closing song: “Salt Lake City” by The Dwarves.  Music for this episode provided by Mevio’s Music Alley.  Check it out at music.mevio.com

A bit extreme? Not uh. That is how it goes in our family and in the greatest rivalry in sports. Being brought up by a father who loves the Tar Heels of North Carolina, my brother and I learned to hate Duke as much as we love the Heels. The rivalry between the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils is as intense as it gets. The two schools are only separated by eight miles and have been playing basketball against one another since 1920. We have a number of incredible rivalries in sports; Yankees-Red Sox, Celtics-Lakers, Giants-Dodgers, USC-Notre Dame and even Patriots-Giants now. But the Tobacco Road rivalry tops them all.

Yesterday I played in a city league basketball game, today before UNC and Duke play, I will play an intramural basketball game and neither of the games that I participate in will get me quite as pumped up as Wednesday’s night game in Chapel Hill. It truly is the best game of the year, better than the Super Bowl, better than the Rose Bowl, better than the World Series and the NBA Finals. In this article we will go over what makes this rivalry more special than any other (and I will attempt to not take too many low blows at the Dookies).

ALL-WORLD CAST: You already know the stars of this show. The teams are led by Hall of Fame coaches Roy Williams of UNC and Mike Krzyzewski (from here on out he will be known as Coach K) of Duke. Roy Williams followed Matt Dougherty who played for the Heels along side Michael Jordan. And everyone knows about the legendary Dean Smith. Duke has been led by players such as Christian Leatner, Grant Hill, Steve Wojciechowski, Bobby Hurley, Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng (can’t forget this guy or I would have been in trouble with the site manager), Mike Dunleavy, JJ Reddick, Shelden Williams, Kyle Singler and more. I had better stop bringing up so many of these guys before I get sick. A few more Tar Heels will be recognizable since most of them have actually made solid careers in the NBA (alright, low blow). Jimmy Black, Michael Jordan, Phil Ford, Kenny Smith, Sam Perkins, James Worthy, Ed Cota, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Raymond Felton, Sean May, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough, Ed Davis.

And both teams have a few good players on their squad now. Carolina’s front line is the best in the country with superstar Harrison Barnes, super freak John Henson, and super, uh, consistent Tyler Zeller. Kendall Marshall is the motor that stirs the drink (ode to Charles Barkley) as the best passer in the country. And sharp shooters Reggie Bullock and PJ Hairston look to leave their imprint on the game from the outside. Duke is headlined by Seth Curry (younger brother of Steph Curry and son of Dell Curry). Their family can shoot the rock. Austin Rivers is the flashiest Duke player I have seen in a while and all of their big men, Mason, and Miles Plumlee and Ryan Kelly drive me crazy.

TEST OF TIME: These two rivals have been playing against each other for 92 years now. According to tarheelblue.com, UNC has the all time series advantage 131-101. So these two meeting isn’t a new occurrence. These blood baths have been going on since 1920.

EVERY GAME MATTERS, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOP OF THE CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS: You will not find too many rivalries where something is on the line each and every time they get together. Being at the top of the conference and almost nearly at the top of the national rankings, every game between these two is a big one. At times, it is about conference positioning and other times, like last regular season finale, the Conference Title is on the line. At the end of the season, when tournament seeding is being decided, you can bet the outcomes of the Tobacco Road rivalry games will be looked at.

The last eight regular season ACC championships have been won outright or shared by either Duke or UNC. Last season’s regular season title was won by Carolina in the season finale against Duke and sadly Duke won the ACC tournament with a win over the Heels. Again, according to tarheelblue.com, Caroline has won the regular season title 28 times and Duke is second with 19. And the teams have captured 36 of the 58 tournament titles.

Tarheelblue.com tells us that eight of the last 30 National Championships have gone back to Chapel Hill or Durham. Carolina has reached 18 Finals Fours and Duke has gotten to 15. Carolina and Duke have combined to make four of the last 11 National Champions. No pair of teams in a rivalry mean more to a sport or have bigger influences on the national landscape. The only chop missing in this rivalry is a match up in the NCAA tournament and when that day comes… I can’t even imagine what that will feel like.

SIGNATURE MOMENTS: This rivalry is filled with them and you can see the images in your head. You can see Eric Montross bleeding all over his head and Jeff Capel hitting his miraculous half court buzzer beater (while wearing Duke’s ugliest jerseys yet) sending the game into overtime and sending the Cameron Crazies up the walls (Jeff‘s little brother, Jason, had much more sense in him as he enrolled at UNC just a few years later). Jerry Stackhouse’s baseline reverse dunk with an and-1 to cap it off was Carolina’s highlight of that classic that was won by Carolina in overtime. Tyler Hansbrough will never forget (this elbow was absolutely intentional; horribly dirty play) the elbow he took from Gerald Henderson in the ACC tournament that led to a bleeding Hansbrough leaving the court and having to wear a facemask in the NCAA tournament.

One of the greatest comebacks in basketball history happened on March 2, 1974. The Heels found themselves down by eight points with seventeen seconds left. A furious comeback was led by some clutch plays and some costly miscues by the Blue Devils. Walter Davis made a 30 foot prayer to send the game into overtime when the Heels eventually won. Look at that, I even managed to get a Duke moment in there. All the other ones were not signature for me and I am sure I have blocked them from my memory.

THE PASSION IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER: No game can get me more riled up. You can feel the intensity in the air. The moment the broadcast starts with highlights from previous match ups and the signature moments listed above, you can just feel how special of a game this truly is. Whether the Cameron Crazies are right on top of you or people are packing into the Dean Dome, the atmosphere is amazing. Attending one of these games is on my bucket list. I will need to warn my neighbors to not worry if they hear yelling from my apartment. The referees are always sure to save a crucial (and undoubtedly horrible) charge call for their Dookies. There will always be furious runs by both teams and I fully expect Austin Rivers to have the game of his life as he starts throwing in three points sky hooks. Tempers will flare and the game will get chippy. But I wouldn’t expect anything less.

College sports will always be known for the passion that the games are played with, the passion the coaches coach with and the passion which the fans cheer with. And that passion isn’t seen more anywhere else in the world during any other game in the world.

I literally cannot wait for this game. Paying attention in classes won’t be happening. If the Tar Heels win, it will be a great night. If (gag) the Blue Devils come out on top, I won’t feel like talking with anyone (I hope my wife is ready for this, she hasn’t seen me yet while this game is going on). But whatever the outcome, I will feel like I have just played in the game, exhausted and needing a rest. Hopefully another signature moment will happen (one I won’t need to block off) and another exciting chapter will be written in this storied rivalry. But what else would you expect?

1. Paul Millsap

I like my power forwards like I like my lines at the Lagoon amusement park–short, quick, and physical. Millsap represents everything we love about Jazz basketball: undervalued, under-appreciated, hard-working, in-your-face, playing with a chip on your shoulder. Millsap has quietly put together an All-Star caliber season, even getting a nod from ESPN NBA columnist John Hollinger as one of his All-Star bench picks. Millsap is the motor for this Jazz team, which makes C.J. Miles the nearly-detached muffler scraping along the asphalt (more on that later). Plus, there was this.

2. Earl Watson

A big chunk of Utah’s success this year has been the result of solid bench play, and the bench has benefited immensely from the leadership of Watson. Aptly nicknamed “The Bulldog,” Watson has shown toughness, leadership and, to put it delicately, cajones. Or not so delicately. Watson has had two defining moments this season. First, there was the retaliation to Dirk Nowitzki slapping the ball out of Derrick Favors hands, when Watson promptly slapped the ball out of Nowitzki’s hands, and then there was the Lakers game, where Watson played on a laser-treated sprained ankle and made some big plays to help the Jazz beat the hated purple and gold in SLC. Like I said–cajones.

3. Al Jefferson

The offensive firepower offsets Jefferson as a defensive liability (which is less than it was last season). It also makes up for the fact that his live-in girlfriend was arrested for “[hitting] him and [biting] him on the back.” That was probably an uncomfortable conversation with the police.

Jefferson: Yeah, she hit me and bit me.

Police: And you’re six-foot-ten?

Jefferson: … She’s really strong.

But when Jefferson is hitting shots, and not getting hit by a woman 12 years his senior, he’s difficult to defend.

4. Gordon Hayward

Hayward’s lack of offensive effectiveness, along with his facial hair, has been a big disappointment so far this season. The one positive is that it shows real self-awareness: he realizes he looks like a prepubescent European, and he’s trying to grow a beard to reduce the visual effect.

Hayward’s defense has been key so far this season, as he’s been given the most difficult assignments to date, including Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul after the other point guards were unable to contain him down the stretch. Hayward’s long arms and refusal to back down from high-profile opponents has been encouraging. In the few minutes that Carmelo Anthony played in the UTA-NYK game, Anthony gave Hayward a little shove on offense, to create space. The next trip down, Hayward did the exact same thing to Carmelo, and Carmelo could only smile. Inside that humongous 12-year-old is a fighter, and he’s found ways to contribute to the Jazz besides putting the ball in the basket.

5. Raja Bell

Rajarino, as I lovingly call him from my couch, has been a bit of a surprise for me. Five games into the season I had a steadily declining opinion of the wily veteran. He wasn’t hitting shots and he was playing defense like it was his moral responsibility to foul anyone who entered his personal space. We needed him to hit shots and shut down opponents, and he wasn’t doing either well. And then he became an emotional headcase defending Kobe, which, unimaginably, made him play worse on defense. But Raja has slowly turned it around. He’s shooting 42% from the three-point line over the past three games, and his defense has improved.

6. Devin Harris

I had a hard time putting Harris this high up on the list, but I can assure you I didn’t have as hard of a time as Harris does making free-throws (zing!).  While Harris’s play has mildly improved lately, he just isn’t the type of PG we’ve come to expect in Utah. He’s averaging 4.5 assists a game this season, compared to Deron Williams averaging more than 10 assists per game during his last three years in Utah. When Harris pushes the ball and picks up the tempo, he’s effective as a scorer and passer. When the Jazz slow down into their half court offense, Harris becomes obsolete.

7. Enes Kanter/Derrick Favors (cop out no. 1)

If we could somehow merge Kanter and Favors into a single being, we would have a terrifyingly complete post player (hereafter referred to collectively as Kantavors) with sad eyes and a thick Turkish accent. Favors is starting to hit jump shots and free-throws with more consistency, while Kanter, who hits free-throws but not jump shots, continues to collect rebounds better than any other rookie in the league. Both play admirable defense for young big men, though their footwork continues to be a weakness offensively. After another year or two of development, Kantavors could be a formidable front court.

9. C.J. Miles (Begrudgingly)

Oh, C.J. How do I tolerate thee? Let me count the ways. I wasn’t sure how to put into words why C.J. is so frustrating to watch, which is why I was thrilled when Matt Harpring summed it up perfectly during the UTA-IND broadcast on Tuesday:

“I think C.J. gets to a point in his game where he feels like he has to do something with the ball every time he touches it … Just run the offense, let it go to the other side. Come off a screen maybe. You don’t have to do something every time you touch the ball, which is why his assist to turnover ratio is not so good. He only has 21 assists this year, and he’s got 20 turnovers to go with his 21 assists … He just thinks he has to do something with the ball every time he touches it, and you don’t. You can let the game come to you.”

That’s right. C.J.’s assist to turnover ratio is 1.05 : 1. Wrap your head around that. I think that statistic illustrates very well the decision-making ability of the six-year (!) veteran. His shooting percentage this season (%38.7) is the worst it has been since the 06-07 season. Does C.J. have flashes of brilliance? Without a doubt. Just when I’ve written him off, he hits a three as the shot clock expires, or he makes a dazzling move to the basket and burns three defenders in the process. But his other shortcomings far too often mitigate any meaningful contributions he makes.

10. Josh Howard (or C.J. Miles lite)

I know this seems like a gimmick, but I’m serious. Just re-read the Harpring quote on C.J., replacing “C.J.” with “Howard”.

11. Jeremy Evans/Alec Burks (cop out no. 2)

Evans/Burks provide the same kind of upbeat, contagious energy when they’re on the court. Unfortunately, neither is on the court for enough time to make much of a contribution. Evans is a dunk machine, and Burks is a cutter/slicer who can finish at the basket and draw fouls. I’m glad that Evans will get a guaranteed contract this year, and I’m excited to see what kind of player Burks becomes.

13. Jamaal Tinsley

Props to Tinsley for playing a solid 34 minutes in the Jazz’s loss against Golden State while he filled in for injured players Harris and Watson. In that game Tinsley had six rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and nine points. Jamaal has played a combined 45 minutes against non-Golden State opponents this season, which is the main reason he’s the unlucky bottom-dweller.

I was even crazy enough back in 2009 after an undefeated season and Sugar Bowl victory to say that Johnson would be an offensive coordinator sometime in his life and hopefully it would be at Utah. Three years later, Johnson takes the head at his Alma Matter.

Here are a few reasons why I just don’t like this choice by Coach Kyle Whittingham, I absolutely love this choice.

First of all, out of the names that came out to the public that were in the mix for the coordinator position, mainly Gary Crowton and Steve Fairchild, who is a better pick out of just those two and Johnson? Johnson by a long shot. Gary Crowton, the former BYU head coach, has yet to turn in a successful track record. Yes, he had a good run at LSU for a season, but why then did he leave? I can only speculate, but something tells me his coaching techniques don’t blend well with other coaches and in all honestly a 1-11 record this year at Maryland as the offensive coordinator isn’t something you want to bring to a football program that is on the rise.

Steve Fairchild, former Colorado State head coach, is yet another coach that was given an opportunity already to make his mark in the college football world. Instead, his losing records will be something he hopes doesn’t stay with him the rest of his career.

Comparing these men to Johnson, both men have already been given chances and were unable to perform. Johnson now will get his first chance in his career to prove himself having an unblemished record. That however can turn ugly or beneficial for Johnson in less than 300 days when the Utes take the field for their first games.

The second reason why I like this pick, Whittingham has already come out and stated that Jordan Wynn is healthy and will be participating in spring ball. This tells me Whittingham, along with the other members of the coaching staff, are going to be fully invested in Wynn as the starting quarterback over John Hays and the two new freshmen coming into the league in Chase Hansen and Travis Wilson.

Wynn, as we have all seen throughout his years at Utah, is a giant question mark on Ute fans minds. So much in fact he has become a scape goat for winning or losing games. When he’s playing well, standing tall, throwing touchdown passes and making big plays, he is the cream of the crop. But often more than not these past two years, Wynn has been through countless storms that have hacked away at his body leaving both his shoulders in need of surgeries.

With all the criticism Wynn has received throughout is time at Utah, there is another piece of him that most likely is going through a tremendous storm, his mind. This is why Johnson is a perfect hire to win right now.

Johnson has worked with Wynn as the quarterback coach ever since Wynn joined the program in 2009. Johnson knows Wynn’s abilities and he knows the quarterback better than anybody else on the coaching staff does.

This is a huge advantage for the offense and a necessity this year as the Utes proved to the Pac-12 you can win without a quarterback, but you can’t win big without a quarterback. Utah can’t rely on John White IV every game to run the ball 40 times and get 200 yards rushing scoring multiple touchdowns. It’s just not going to happen as every team in the Pac-12 now knows to watch out for White. Johnson’s relationship with Wynn will be a keystone to the Utes offensive success this year.

The last reason why Johnson is the right guy is simple; In Whit I Trust. Whittingham is a coach that rarely makes mistakes in any aspect of college football. When he hired Norm Chow, Ute nation was shocked and awed and the feeling that we really were a Pac-12 team became very clear. Unfortunately, a great opportunity came for Chow to take the head coaching position in his home of Hawaii and Whittingham entered into a ploy that was a losing situation right from the beginning.

After announcing the hiring of what basically could be called a blockbuster hire for the U, how on earth was Whittingham going to replicate a hire like that? He couldn’t, he simply couldn’t. So Whittingham has done the next best thing; he’s hired somebody within the program that knows the importance of what football means to the University as well as the thousands of loyal fans.

Johnson may be one of the youngest coordinators in the history of the game, but Whittingham wouldn’t have hired him if he didn’t feel Johnson was ready to step up the challenge.

Johnson will have to prove himself without a doubt though on the field and its inevitable that criticism can and will come. But I trust in Coach Whit and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Utah Football.

BYU was able to overcome their 5th consecutive sub-30% shooting night. After the Cougars started the game 0-3 from the arc, freshman guard Damarcus Harrison was able to pick up the first three pointer of the game and BYU’s first in over 17 minutes combined game minutes.

Big Men

The Zags game into the game expecting to dominate the post with senior center Robert Sacre and junior Elias Harris, but BYU’s big men were too much to handle. Senior Noah Hartsock led the game in scoring with 24 points and crashed the boards, picking up 14 rebounds.

Junior Brandon Davies was able to hold his own as well despite being in foul trouble most of the second half. Davies finished with 15 points on 7/12 shooting. What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is Davies dominant defensive performance underneath containing Robert Sacre in the post. Brandon’s only block came against Sacre in the second half and almost tore the roof off the Marriot Center.

Bench

While freshman guard Anson Winder technically started on Thursday against Gonzaga, it was his first start since December 10, 2011 when the Cougars played Utah in the Huntsman Center. Winder got the nod over junior Brock Zylstra and took advantage of it, providing a defensive spark the Cougars needed. Winder shot 4/8 picking up 10 points, 3 steals, and 5 assists.

Damarcus Harrison made the most out of his 8 total minutes by providing that spark late in the first half. Harrison finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Coach Rose didn’t go as deep into his bench as he usually does, playing only Harrison, Craig Cusick, Brock Zylstra, and Nate Austin. All four bench players contributes nicely.

Defense

An article in Thursday’s Washington Post focuses on Gonzaga’s 19 turnovers, saying the Zags “practically gave it away.” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few told the media after the game, “That’s always the worry when you have two freshmen guards,” referring to Gary Bell and Kevin Pangos. I wonder if coach Few knew that Matt Carlino and Anson Winder were also freshman. In fact, the Cougars played 4 freshman compared to Gonzaga’s 2.

The fact is BYU came out with a vengeance on defense after almost clawing their way back last Saturday against Saint Mary’s. The Cougars’ defense was able to force 15 Bulldog turnovers in the first half, 12 of which were steals.

Looking Ahead

BYU will play at Portland on Saturday, February 4. Portland is among the bottom in the nation in just about every major category, making this game a nice walk in the park for the Cougars. BYU will then play Pepperdine at home, followed by a three game road stretch to San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Gonzaga.

BYU’s chances of picking up that coveted at large bid are slim to none. Essentially, they would have to win out and hope that the WCC is a legitimate two or three bid conference. Regardless, Coach Rose seems to have his team on the right track.

Subscribe to the show in iTunes.  You can also give a quick rating or leave a review.

This is by far the most controversial episode we’ve ever done and is sure to ruffle a few feathers.  More than anything we hope this show continues the discussion about the role of sports fans and their allegiances to players and teams.

We would love to hear what you think about the Jimmer situation.  Give us your thoughts by calling the D&D Show Voicemail & Text Line at 801-477-7678 or email us at feedback[at]doganddeuce[dot]com.  You can also join the discussion in real time by tweeting at us (@DogAndDeuce and @TheDog801) or leaving a comment below.

Show Notes:

• In the most controversial episode we have ever done, Dog and Deuce take aim at the insanely vocal BYU fans who packed Energy Solutions Arena last Saturday to see Jimmer Fredette return to Utah to play the Jazz.
• Should fans be able to stand and cheer for an opposing player?
• How far can they go before it gets out of hand?
• Are we making too big a deal over this situation?
• If you are a BYU/Jimmer fan and a Jazz fan how did you feel when he missed the game winner?  Were you bummed the Kings lost or happy that the Jazz got a much needed win?

• Plus there is a small event going on this weekend called the Superbowl (maybe you’ve heard of it?).  We preview the game and give our predictions.

• Check out Kevin Graham’s site at sportsmashup.com

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Opening and closing song: “Salt Lake City” by The Dwarves.  Music for this episode provided by Mevio’s Music Alley.  Check it out at music.mevio.com